Professional media

You cannot get any more dishonest than this:

"Obviously if you are reading this then I have died in Iraq. I kind of predicted this, that is why I'm writing this in November. A third time just seemed like I'm pushing my chances."

vs.

"Obviously if you are reading this then I have died in Iraq. I kind of predicted this, that is why I'm writing this in November. A third time just seemed like I'm pushing my chances. I don't regret going, everybody dies but few get to do it for something as important as freedom. It may seem confusing why we are in Iraq, it's not to me. I'm here helping these people, so that they can live the way we live. Not have to worry about tyrants or vicious dictators. To do what they want with their lives. To me that is why I died. Others have died for my freedom, now this is my mark."

The NYTimes are simply hack propagandists for the Democrats. James Dao, you, your editor, or both, suck. That you still work for the NYTimes after something like this confirms that you, personally, suck. You've got your story line -- the gambler's lament, "Ooh, if only he hadn't done it that one last time" -- your bias against Republicans, your obstinate refusal to see that the war is not even arguably a failure but is a wild success, and by God you're going to run it, and run it and run it. You, James Dao, are a liar and a partisan holding yourself out as a competent paid reporter.